Ok so heres the situation and then the idea (new here, not sure where to post this idea, its intended just to get some advice and help on this idea to turn it into a functioning thing that may be of use to others once the code is made!)
The most experience ive had with arduino is uploading code to an itsybitsy m0 board for a lightgun build! But seeing out functional it is i think it is possible to make this credit board but just wondering if anyone can share any ideas as well, or if there is anything like this around?
So heres the idea -
I'd like to make a credit board for an arcade machine out of an arduino, getting the old credit boards etc is hard and expensive especially in certain countries. The arduino would be a great way to replace broken credit boards so id like to give coding it a go and then theres the wiring of it to an existing arcade (or raspberry pi) either to work with a button (for testing or home use), or with a coin mech.
A turtles arcade machine (and a bunch of others) often require a "credit board" that organises each coin drop as a certain amount of credits.
The turtles one is awkward as it has to control the leds that light up for each coin (flashing on and off) and there are 4 independent start buttons for each player which each would be assigned a credit. So say for example it is 50p for one credit and i have inserted only 1 50p coin, the credit board then activates the 1 2 3 and 4 start buttons (which are the attack buttons for the original turtles pcb) and if i press player 1, it will give the credit for player 1 then de-activate the credits (takes them away) so the lights no longer flash, and pressing the start buttons wont give any credits).
This is the only way that turtles works. (same goes for simpsons, sunset riders, turtles in time etc).
If you emulate it, you can't insert a coin for all, then press start for your chosen character. There are independent coin buttons for each player and to begin with that player then, the button assigned for that is that players attack button..
So a work around for this is to have a coin button 1, coin 2, coin 3 and coin 4. Which is not realistic to have 4 coin mechs on one arcade machine, or, a different rom for the board which is the 2 player rom.
But for 4 players, the only way is to have 4 independent coin slots, or, a credit board.
The idea -
To have an arduino act as a credit board, that also makes each credit led flash.
My coin mech is strictly for 50p coin only which then once accepted the coin falls onto a lever switch (a regular arcade switch) (the coin mech does not give out a specific pulse).
But this is where I'd need some advice and ideas shared then for coin mechs that give out different pulses for different coins that are passed through).
Once the coin lever is pressed this then will send the signal to the arduino that a coin has been put in, the arduino will then activate 4 leds to flash for each players start button. When you then press the start button it will turn off the lights (if only one credit has been put in) and then no other credits are given until another one presses the lever switch.
If you put in 2 coins, it will know that 2 coins have been put in and the lights will flash and the arduino will be waiting for the player start buttons to be pressed to spend the credits. (it wont have to be like you put in one credit and if another has been put in before a player has selected it wont ignore that credit, if you understand what i mean).
So i basically want to make an arduino function this way and just looking for some help and advice to set me in the right direction!
Thank you
Sorry if this post has annoyed anyone with a basic "I want to make this, how do i do it" sort of vague request. But i am really interested in learning how to do this myself but wanted to try to save some time by learning the right things from some suggestions from you guys to see what is possible or not possible in your experience.